Our reporter/ Months after their arrest for joining the #EndHunger protest in August, scores of emaciated minors unable to perfect their N10 million bail were transported to Kuje correctional facility on Friday after their arraignment.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu’s courtroom at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court was filled to capacity after over 70 defendants, primarily minors, charged with treason, were arraigned in court.
Four of minors collapsed and were rushed to the hospital as prosecutors were forced to temporarily withdraw the charges levelled against them according to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 which exempted sick defendants from criminal proceedings.
The judge slapped a N10 million bail on each of the remaining defendants and asked them to produce two sureties, one of whom must be a government employee on grade level 15 or above and the second surety, their parent.
Both sureties must avail their addresses to be verified by the court before bail can be processed.
Atiku, Obi condemn arraignment of minors
Their detention has led to widespread condemnations accross the country.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, joined the many voices that condemned the detention and prosecution of the minors.
Both Atiku and Obi described the development as disturbing in a series of posts on their X handles.
“The horrible scene reminiscent of a Nazi concentration camp once again reflects the low premium the current government places on the lives of the vulnerable, especially children.
“For emphasis, Section 11 of the Child’s Rights Act guarantees dignity of the child. It states that, “Every child is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, no child shall be ‐ (a) subjected to physical, mental or emotional injury, abuse, neglect or maltreatment, including sexual abuse; (b) subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” Atiku’s post read in part.
The ex-Vice President said he finds it “reprehensible that a man who claims to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy and had led protests now demonises those who decide to demonstrate against the effects of his harsh and draconian policies.”
He noted that “children who are the most affected by these policies have every right to protest peacefully, as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Child Rights Act.”
“A nation can be assessed by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens. It is saddening that even underage children are not spared from the wickedness of T Pain,” Atiku added.
On his part Obi said that looking at the children, they were poorly handled despite being in the custody of the federal government of Nigeria.
“The offense being alleged against these suspects, including minors, is protesting against bad governance that was directly affecting their livelihood and which our constitution under a democratic dispensation guarantees them.
“Curiously, most of the people in government today leveraged this aspect of the Constitution standing as champions of good governance while in opposition,” Obi wrote.
He added, “Moreover, our status presumes that suspects deserve some dignity, even in a correctional home as human beings. The reason why we should all be concerned about a situation like this is because we are part of a global community where human dignity should be respected.
“May I appreciate the presiding lordship for halting the trial and saving the country further embarrassment it would have been to the World as a democratic nation?”
The ex-Anambra governor called on the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, the Police, and the DSS, as well as the National Human Rights Commission, to thoroughly investigate such “inhuman treatment of minors to avert such incidents in the future.”
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